NEW ORLEANS (Feb. 15, 2013) - The Rend Lake College baseball season started Friday at a three-day series hosted by Delgado Community College in New Orleans.

The Warriors beat Pensacola State College 8-0 to kick off the season. Sophomore Nick Andros (Tunnel Hill, Ill.) threw a complete game, one-hit shutout in the win. Andros struck out seven batters and only walked two with Aaron Choate (Mount Vernon, Ind.) catching. Rend Lake did not commit an error on defense and earned its runs on six hits. It scored four runs in the second inning.

Carson Neuschwander hit a triple and scored three times in his 1-3 performance from the plate. Trey Garrett (Benton, Ill.) went 2-3 and Ty Broady (Greenville, Ky.) went 1-1 with a two-run double. Dustin Tuck picked up the loss for Pensacola State.

The Warriors gave up two runs to Delgado Community College in the first inning - one earned. That was all it would take to hand Rend Lake a 2-0 loss, despite the Warriors outhitting its opponent 6-4. RLC was also unable to capitalize on two errors by Delgado CC. Brandon George (DuQuoin, Ill.) got the loss for RLC with Choate again behind the plate. George did not walk a batter and struck out nine in his six innings.

Rend Lake’s Bryant Shute (Pinckneyville, Ill.) went 1-2 with two stolen bases, Nueschwander went 1-3, as did Garrett, with Tirey Burch (Santa Claus, Ind.) and Kyle Hartwick (Oxford, Mich.) each getting a hit.

RLC Head Coach Tony Etnier said he was happy with his team’s performance in the season opener, especially since they were on little rest after a long road trip.

“We left at 9 p.m., last night and drove all night to get here. We didn’t get much rest, ate some breakfast, and went to the park. To come out and win your first game, and have an opportunity to win your second, ... I thought we played pretty well. It wasn’t perfect. ... It’s early and mistakes are going to happen.”

The road trip provides players a great opportunity to see opponents they wouldn’t normally get to play and build on the chemistry that becomes so important to teams as the season progresses. Etnier also pointed out the weather, which was in the 60s in New Orleans.

“It gives us an opportunity to play outside in comfortable weather an get some games in early in the year,” he said. “A lot of these kids had never been out of southern Illinois. It’s the first time some of them have ever travelled. It’s good for them to get out and see some parts of the world they’ve never seen before.”

Rend Lake will continue play in New Orleans on Saturday and Sunday before heading back to Ina. On the way, it will pick up some games in Mississippi. RLC’s home opener is scheduled for 2 p.m., March 1, with Kankakee Community College.

For all things athletic at The Lake, visit RLC online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.